Three Kingdoms History: Sima Hui

Named ‘Water Mirror’ by Pang Degong. Former teacher of Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong.

Officer Details

Wade-Giles: Ssŭma Hui (Tê-ts‘ao)
Simplified Chinese: 司马徽 (德操)
Pronunciation: Si¹ma³ Hui¹ (De²cao¹)
Cantonese (Yale): Sima Fai (Dak-chou)
Cantonese (Jyutpin): Simaa Fai (Dak-cou)
Min-Nan: Suma Hui (Tek-coh)

Birthplace: Sima Hui is described as both a man from Yingchuan and of Xiangyang in Nan Commandery. He probably migrated south to avoid the civil war. [Rafe]

Rank and Titles

“Water Mirror” or “Mirror of Water” (Pang Degong)

Family and Relationships

Xiang Lang, Xu Shu, Yin Mo, Li Ren (Students)

Fact vs. Fiction

Differences Between Fact and Common Fiction

• It was originally Pang Degong who described Zhuge Liang as ‘Sleeping Dragon’, Pang Tong as ‘Fledgling Phoenix’, and Sima Hui as ‘Water Mirror’. Sima Hui, however, did repeat this to Liu Bei. [ZZTJ 65]

Literary Appearances

Romance of the Three Kingdoms: 35-38

Sanguozhi: Shu 7

Hou Han shu: 83

Zizhi tongjian: 65